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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#41: Fuzzy Friends (or Foes?)

Hey, writers! I'm Tracy Gold, an editor, writer, and mom to a toddler, horse, and dog. And this week, I'm taking over Reedsy Prompts!

As an editor, I've enjoyed working on young adult fiction (like Amanda Searcy's Watch You Burn), non-fiction (like Gary Vikan's The Holy Shroud), and sci-fi/fantasy (like Nikki Richard's Demon in the Whitelands). Visit my Reedsy profile to learn more about me and my work!

My theme for this week is "fuzzy friends." From Hedwig in the Harry Potter series to Enzo in the The Art of Racing in the Rain, nothing captures hearts like a beloved animal. Animals can be powerful antagonists, too: just look at Jurassic Park! Perhaps what I love most about books featuring fuzzy friends (or foes) is that they mine the depths of the human heart by exploring how we interact with animals. I hope these prompts help you sniff out a good story!

This week's prompts

Write about an animal who changes a person's life (for better or worse).

Kids – 232 stories

Write about an animal species that doesn't exist in real life — an alien, new discovery, imaginary creature — it's up to your interpretation!

Middle School – 145 stories

Write about an animal who goes on a journey.

Kids – 69 stories

Write a story featuring an animal who subverts expectations (like a snuggly tiger, or something more magical, like a literal fish out of water).

Kids – 69 stories

Write about an animal who causes a huge problem.

Middle School – 99 stories

Stories

“THE ‘GACO’ AND THE CURSE” by Sofie Barnet E.K

Submitted to Contest #41

It was sunny and the sun shone directly over my head as a huge shadow appeared over me. Looking up I gasped as a dog-like bird, I mean, it had wings but looked more like a dog as it had ears, a tail and innocent eyes. It was flying effortlessly with such a heavy body. It slowed down and flapped its wings almost on my trembling shoulder and whispered, “I am a wishing GACO, get on, I can tek you anywer” “Are you going to give me an air ride, but why do you have---““Get on fast”I got on without any knowledge of what it was...

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“I shall call you Flame” by Tim Law

Submitted to Contest #41

“Spawn!” yelled my father. “Go tend the fire!”It is hard to respect someone, even your father if you do not get respect in return. I learnt that early on in my seven years of life and it has bugged my dad and my older brothers so much that someone so young looks upon them with such contempt.I’m Pawn, Pawn O’Dell. My dad is Patrick, a foreman at the local slaughter house. My mum is Michelle, the Principal at my school. Mum is the one who named us all, dad was away at the factory. A lover of all things chess and chess related me ma named us al...

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“Fishing Allure” by Jesper Jee

Submitted to Contest #41

“No mother, I haven’t heard from dad! Why would he call me? And why do you care?”Louise could feel her voice growing louder but was yet unaware of the stares she got as she hurried across the street from East 72st street and into Central Park.She usually hated the people on their phones in the middle of the day, especially in the park. On most occasions before getting ready to shoot she wouldn’t even pick up the phone. Especially when her mother was the caller. But she had moved too quickly. An regretted it too late.“Listen, you are bot...

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“King of The Everglades” by Andrew Zaino

Submitted to Contest #41

Nothing can be heard or seen as far and wide as the marsh lands let visible. None of course except the endless chatter of the birds. But all is calm and still. Not a plane nor a boat. Just the sound of nature humming its tune. From the water’s edge there can be seen deer. A female doe. It gracefully bends its neck down to the water almost as if it is completing the image of pure peace if nature were to be photographed. But in an instant faster than the flash of a camera a beast emerges from the water. Several feet higher than a one would thi...

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“My Eyes Named Daffy ” by Elaina Goodnough

Submitted to Contest #41

Sydney Taylor sat on the park bench just outside of her cozy home. The day was a glorious one. Whitest and pillowy clouds scattered across the blue blanket of a sky, floating lazily along as if they didn't have a care in the world. The grass shone in the form of tiny green blades, scattered about as if each on a journey, yet they were destined to go nowhere. Kids played across the street, little girls and boys with blonde and black, red and brown hair, each with his or her own runny nose and smiling, laughing faces. But this is not what Sydn...

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“Finding a New Home” by Carille Durbin

Submitted to Contest #41

"Get up. we're leaving," Mama told Liz. Liz was only six months old but she could walk. Liz opened her sleepy eyes to look at her mother. "Come on we are leaving now," her mother repeated. Liz looked around and discovered the rest of the family was starting to move. She got to her feet and started walking as fast as she could. Members of her family parted so Liz was surrounded by adults. &...

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“Birdbrain” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #41

“Tell me all you know about starlings.” It was a writing prompt like the ones Natalie Goldberg gives to students, only Goldberg had actually said “Tell me all you know about mashed potatoes.”Mashed potatoes cannot compete with starlings. My story will try to illustrate how that is true. Please bear with me.***The woman knows her story must sound odd at first, maybe even give the impression that she has some issues with, say, her mental stability. However, that is not the case. All the parts and participants do fall into place, like the parab...

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“Zena's Journey” by Olivia Osen

Submitted to Contest #41

Zena curls up in her little doggy bed and kicks out her legs as if running. Zena is running, in her dreams. She is racing through the lush green forest chasing after rabbits and squirrels. She spots a squirrel hiding in a bush near her and she abruptly changes directions. She lets out a joyous bark and leaps through the air. Zena falls back to the ground and trips over a tree root, landing on her nose. This sends her popping up out of her dog bed rubbing tenderly at her nose. Zena sighs as she realizes her joyous freedom was merely a dream. ...

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“A Dug Out Pond” by Dustin Softman

Submitted to Contest #41

Mrs Dalton had been the first to discover Berty. Soon in tow Miss Badeal, most of the Laghari family and an assortment of other village folk followed her down to the local pond. ‘He really is the most remarkable of his kind I’ve ever seen, I’ve no idea how he ended up there, I’ve been walking around Huntly garden’s pond near every day since they dug it out and I’ve never seen so much as a cherry shrimp or killifish in that bog, but today it is clear as tears and there is the most enormous… ’ Mr Laghari sidled up to expedition’s leader to res...

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“The Avian Adviser” by Shaun Calvert

Submitted to Contest #41

All hail the king, and hail him well, if you know what is good for you.He was firm, but also fair…ly annoyed and predisposed to executions. He had to rule the kingdom, keep the order and keep an assortment of ancient secret evils from being unleashed into the world at any given moment. Take the orcs, for example. Few people knew orcs existed, but the king did. He had a whole castle dedicated to the purpose of repelling them. The point is, he was very busy and did not really have the time to be dealing with the more mundane tasks of royalty. ...

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“The Snake With Blue Eyes” by Dextyr Adams

Submitted to Contest #41

As he entered the forest that morning there had been snow. It clung to his cloak as it drug against the earth and kissed the soles of his feet through his worn out boots. His thick wool socks were almost completely soaked now, yet he trekked onwards. In his hands was a basket filled with small amber vials. Antidote - or at least that was what the man in white had called them. The vials were supposed to save those who’d fallen ill in his village. He wasn’t smart nor had he ever claimed to be - so he listened to this mysterious man. He ha...

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“Glug Hits the Road” by Deborah Mercer

Submitted to Contest #41

Author’s Note: Another of my stories in verse. Hope it works!Glug the Pug liked to toddle, to waddle, to trot,Some dogs like to run at full tilt. Glug did NOT.He snuffled and sniffled and kept his own pace,a look of content on his wrinkled up face.He was not one to hasten and not one to hurry,and not one to scamper and not one to scurry.Though every so often he felt a slight tug,as his owner Lucy exclaimed, Come ON, Glug!But one day Glug decided that this got him down,and he’d had enough of the crowds and the town,He wanted t...

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“Rosie the Trucking Dog” by Sue Marsh

Submitted to Contest #41

Rosie the Trucking DogSuzanne MarshIt was a cold winter night in January of 2004, Earl and I had stopped at Carl's Corner for the night. We were OTR truckers back then. We were going into the “C” store before going to bed. A medium size dog brown and white dog was begging for food. She followed us back to the truck. We had a white German Shepherd in the truck, so we scrambled into the truck, got a paper bowl and gave her some food. She ate that then disappeared into the night. Earl and I agreed that if she came back in the morning we would p...

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“The Wild Life” by Greg Gillis

Submitted to Contest #41

Lonnie McTaggert was having a hard time making ends meet lately. He was in between jobs again and owed hundreds of dollars in rent and utility bills, so he decided to try and escape the stress of the city for the weekend and head into the country on a camping adventure. At least he could get some relief from his building anxiety for a short period of time. Lonnie packed his car with camping supplies, a cooler filled with sandwiches and water, as well as a fishing rod an...

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“A Precious Cat” by Kathleen March

Submitted to Contest #41

A Precious Cat I’ve lived for several decades. During that time, I’ve shared my homes with a number of cats. Don’t think that because there have been quite a few that they were disposable cats I used up and threw away. Heavens no! The majority of my feline companions have lived long, happy lives - nine or maybe more, such as in the case of Bizowis. His nineteen years are another story, however, plus he may have been part human so maybe shouldn’t be counted among cat tales. And oh, by the way, his name mean...

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$50

Prize money

614

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - May 15, 2020 EST

Won by Jack Basson 🏆

Title: A Cat of Ganymede

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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